Gop Backer Reacts Strongly To Sign Pulling

Political Pulse

Take the roadside encounter between Republican supporter Vance Moore and Leesburg Assistant City Manager Jim Perry, who wouldn't say which side he supports.

Moore, who says signs have been disappearing from his neighborhood, told sheriff's deputies that he and his wife saw a man driving a van remove a Bush sign from an abandoned fire station near the intersection of Picciola and Lake Unity roads.

Moore wrote in an affidavit that he followed the van, which was sporting a John Kerry bumper sticker, to a home in a nearby subdivision. Perry introduced himself, Moore said, and told the couple that he was headed home from a city meeting, where he had been told to pick up improperly placed signs. Moore said he asked Perry for the sign, which was on the passenger floorboard of the van, but Perry refused to surrender it.

Instead, the assistant city manager offered to take the sign back, Moore wrote.

Perry said he had called County Manager Bill Neron from the fire station on his cell phone to check whether the sign was allowed.

Perry denied that he took the Bush-Cheney sign off the property, but he acknowledged, "Sure, I looked at it. I moved it around."

Moore said in an affidavit that he wanted to prosecute, but no charges have been filed.

DUELING MOVIES

Mount Dora Democrats Gary McKechnie and Al Chiodi, along with some other Democrats, independents and what they described as "Republicans converted to the cause," were looking for ways to motivate people to vote last week.

So they chose director Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 to jump-start a little controversy, or, as they say, "remind voters of the gross incompetence of George Bush."

Either way, a news item advertising the free showings of the movie Friday and Saturday at the Mount Dora Community Building appeared Monday in the Lake edition.

Apparently, the plan caused a little tizzy. By Wednesday, a second news item appeared, touting a second group led by attorney Leslie Campione and her brother Steve Shamrock. They are among the group hosting an opposing view in the form of a documentary called FahrenHYPE 9/11. The free screening was to be Saturday in the baggage room of the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce.

McKechnie said the opposing group's plan was "pretty sneaky -- but clever."

"I think discourse like this and the chance to air opposing views is great as long as it's civil," he said.

He said for every protester who stops by to picket his showings, his group is making a $10 contribution to the Kerry for President campaign in their name.

"Plus, we're reserving two front-row VIP seats for Leslie and Steve," McKechnie said. "We'll provide them with free popcorn, candy and soft drinks. We're even going to make them honorary members of the Lake County Democratic Party.

"I think they'll appreciate that."

YAKETY YAK

Minneola City Council member Debbie Veit had to get the last word at her final city meeting Tuesday.

In fact, she had quite a few words -- more than half an hour's worth.

The vocal council member seized the final part of the public meeting to speak about everything from her own dutiful service for the city to her grim concerns for the council's future. All the other council members could do was sit and wait until Veit finished her blustery comments.

Veit is stepping down from the council, and four candidates are looking to replace her in Tuesday's election.

THE GOOD, THE BAD

There is good news and bad news for Clermont cops.

First, the good: The city's police department recently was awarded Crime Prevention Unit of the Year by the Florida Crime Prevention Association.

The bad: The city also had Lake County's highest increase in serious crimes during the first six months of this year -- a 42 percent increase -- according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

WAY-COOL ENCOUNTER

Leave it to a politician to find snow in the middle of sunny Florida.

Mascotte City Council member Jeff Krull, who sometimes describes himself as a Yankee transplanted from Chicago, said he recently had to take his longtime girlfriend and City Council candidate Barbara Tillman to an appointment with the eye doctor at RDV Sportsplex in Maitland.

The facility includes medical offices and sports venues, including an ice-skating rink. Krull said he was driving in the parking lot after the rink's Zamboni ice-resurfacing machine unloaded a fresh pile of slushy ice shavings in part of the parking lot.

Maybe it's a Yankee thing, but Krull said he was strangely drawn to the pile. So he drove his car through it, he said.

"I almost got stuck in the snow."

WHAT VOTERS REALLY WANT

Minneola's Judy Foote said if the presidential candidates want her vote, they better come get it.

"What's in Orlando that Minneola and Clermont don't have?"' she asked. "They are vying for everyone's vote and that includes those small towns. Come out here and personally get out the vote."